Sea bed levelling and consolidation system

ABSTRACT

A system for the levelling and consoliation of the sea bed that comprises of a suction hood ( 1 ) driven into the ground, a pieza ( 2 ) coiled into the hood ( 1 ), some L-shaped tubes ( 3 ) welded to the part ( 2 ), some tubes ( 4 ) connected perpendicularly to each one of the horizontal stretches of the tubes ( 3 ), some inclined continuous plates ( 5 ) on the free ends of the tubes ( 4 ), some tubes connected telescopically ( 6 ) on the inside of the suction hood and a pinion ( 7 ) that allows the tubes to turn ( 3 ). Furthermore, for the consolidation of the sea bed, comprised of a hopper ( 8 ) in which the grout that is going to be used is stored to consolidate the ground, some bombas de cavidad progresiva that are located inside the vertical part of the tubes ( 3 ) and some pinions connected to the axle of the pumps.

This invention refers to a system for levelling and consolidation of the sea bed where there will be the installation on top of it of some kind of cementing or any other type of object that may require levelled and consolidated ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the most important problems when cementing in a platform or any other type of installation on a sea bed is managing to attain a levelled and pressure-resistant and erosion-resistent ground that will provide a good base for cementing.

To skim the sea bed, there is a well-known system which consists of a heavyweight dragging procedure where a large weight is dragged clear by a boat whereby its movement levels the ground. This system is useful for the construction of dykes, supports for docks, etc, due to the terrain that it manages to clear is narrow and long. The bidding company is not aware at the present time of the existence of a system that permits the levelling of a circular or polygonal area of the sea bed, of any size whatsoever, and which, at the same time, also allows it to be consolidated.

For that, this invention provides a system that would solve a prior lack of existing techniques and would allow for the levelling and consolidation of the sea bed as a prior stage to the placement of a cement base or any other structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system that is the object of this invention consists of a suction hood in a cylindrical shape that will be driven into the area of the sea bed that needs to be levelled and consolidated. Likewise, it consists of a series of cylindrical and tubes connected in a telescopic form situated on the inside of the suction hood and projecting from it. The upper part of the hood is threaded and on it there is a coiled part, with an inner thread, to which a number of tubes in an L-shape are welded around it. The tubes are welded to the part at different heights on the part and in a way in which a stretch of the tubes remains in a vertical position and another stretch of the tubes remains in a horizontal position.

From each one of the horizontal stretches of these L-shaped tubes and connected to themde, other smaller tubes come out of them perpendicularly, arranged in a staggered formation, at the same height as the part that has been coiled on the upper part of the hood, and at the base or the free end of these smaller tubes there is an inclined continuous plate that joins them together. The inclined continuous plate ends in a curved edge.

On the upper part of the innermost concentric tube there is a pinion connected to the tubes in an L shape which allows for these to turn at the same time as the threaded part in the upper part of the hood. The telescopic tubes are equipped with an anti-spin system, which renders them immobile.

The hood is driven into the sea bed that we want to level. While the L-shaped tubes turn, the inclined continuous plate starts to scrape the ground and starts to distribute the material dragged from the ground on the highest area to the lowest area, levelling it. The remaining material that has been dragged up is thrown outwards thanks to the design of the inclined continuous plate, which is curved at the furthest end of the suction hood.

The ground to be levelled can be of whatever size we like, given that other tubes can be connected to the horizontal stretches of the L-shaped tubes in a way that increases the radius-being flattened.

On very soft and unstable sea beds, although there are erosion protection systems available, we can encounter problems and inconveniences at the time of cementing or installing another object on the sea bed. To be able to improve the characteristics of the ground, it is necessary, on these occasions, to consolidate the said ground.

Hence, the levelling system can be made up of a series of additional elements which would allow the ground to be consolidated at the same time at which it is levelled. These elements are a hopper which is filled with a concrete grout or gravel, etc connected to the L-shaped tubes and some progressive cavity pumps which are located inside the vertical part of the L-shaped tubes. The axle of said pumps is connected to some pinions that, in turn, are connected to the pinion which is located on the upper part of the innermost concentric tube and which propels the turning of the L-shaped tubes. Once the pinions are connected, at the same time, the turning of the pump and the L-shaped tubes can be activated.

Within the system, we can have two options, one where the pinions connected to the axles of the pump are motorised and the pinion situated on the innermost telescopic tube are not motorised, or the exact opposite.

As the pump turns, the grout falls into the L-shaped tubes until it comes out of the smaller tubes that they are connected to. In this way, the grout is spread over the whole surface that needs to be consolidated to the point where until the full sweep is made by the coiled suction hood. The pump and the L-shaped tubes can turn in reverse, once the ground has been levelled and consolidated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To complete the description and with the objective of helping better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, there is a diagram attached where, in an illustrative and not limitative way, the following has been represented:

FIG. 1: Side view of the sea bed levelling and consolidation system.

FIG. 2: View from above of the sea bed levelling and consolidation system.

The references that appear in the are the following:

-   1.—Suction hood -   2.—Part with an inner coil -   3.—L-shaped tubes -   4.—Smaller tubes connected perpendicularly to the L-shaped tubes -   5.—Inclined continuous plate -   6.—Telescopically connected tubes -   7.—Pinion -   8.—Hopper

Ideal Description of how it would Operate

To achieve better understanding of the invention, what will now follow is a description, with the aid of the figures, of the sea bed levelling and consolidation system.

The sea bed levelling and consolidation system, the preferred objective of this operation, consists of a suction hood (1) which is driven into the sea bed. The upper and external part of the hood is coiled at a length of one metre.

On the hood (1) a coil is fitted (2), with an inner coil, the outside of which has four L-shaped tubes welded to it (3) separated from each other as much as possible and at different heights of the part. From each one of the horizontal stretches, the tubes (3), and connected to them, other smaller tubes emerge perpendicularly (4), at a height of 1 metre, and on whose base there is an inclined continuous plate (5) that joins them together and which ends in a curved end.

Inside the hood there is a multitude of tubes connected telescopically (6), which are equipped with an anti-spin system. On the upper part of the innermost concentric tube there is a motorised pinion (7) connected to the tubes (3) which allows for these to turn at the same time the part turns (2). Furthermore, the system contains a hopper (8) full of concrete grout and connected to the tubes (3) and four progressive cavity pumps that are located within the vertical part of the tubes (3). Said pumps move due to some pinions that are connected to the motorised pinion (7). When moving, the motorised pinion (7), the tubes (3) start to turn, as well as the progressive cavity pump, in a way that the grout starts to fall through the tubes (3) until it comes out of the tubes (4) and starts to be deposited on the sea bed at the same time as it is being levelled. 

1. A system for the levelling of the sea bed that is comprised of: A suction hood coiled on its upper external parts, driving said hood into the sea bed A part coiled on the interior that is coiled on the upper and external part of the hood A multitude of L-shaped tubes welded to the part around it, with a section of the tube being in a vertical position and the other section being in a horizontal position. A multitude of tubes, that emerge perpendicularly from each one of the horizontal stretches of the tubes and connected to said tubes Some inclined continuous plates to scrape the ground situated at the free extremes of the tubes A multitude of telescopically connected tubes on the inside of the suction hood and coming out of said hood. A pinion on the upper part of the innermost telescopic tube and connected to the tubes, which allows these to turn at the same time as the part turns.
 2. According to patent claim 1, which furthermore comprises, for the consolidaton of the sea bed, the following elements: A hopper connected to the tubes in which grout is stored which would be used to consolidate the ground Some progressive cavity pumps that are located inside the vertical part of the tubes. Some pinions connected to the axles of the pumps and which, at the same time, said pinions are connected to the pinion.
 3. The system under patent claim 1, claimed because the tubes are equipped to be staggered.
 4. The system under patent claim 1, claimed because the inclined continuous plates end in a curved end to throw out the material dragged off the ground.
 5. The system under patent claim 1, claimed because the telescopically connected tubes are equipped with an anti-spin system.
 6. The system under patent claim 1, caracterizado because the tubes can be lengthened to the desired length, as many straight tubes as are desired.
 7. The system under patent claim 1, claimed because the tubes are welded to the part as far apart as possible from each other and at different heights of the part.
 8. The system under patent claim 2, claimed because the pinion is motorised, whilst the pinions connected to the axis of the pumps are not motorised
 9. The system under patent claim 2, claimed because the pinion is not motorised and the pinions connected to the axles of the pumps are motorised.
 10. The system under patent claim 2, claimed because as much on the L-shaped tubes as on the progressive cavity pump, they can turn in reverse once the ground is levelled and consolidated.
 11. The system under patent claim 1, claimed because the inside coiled pincer has the necessary height to allow for any type of depths to be levelled, regardless of their topography. 